Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-08
Annual Banquet Of the Jackson Club
Of Columbus, Ohio, in Memory
Of January 8.
Allen G.. Thurman Replies to the Toast;
"The UBi0n-the Common Her
itage Of the People,"
Synonym for the Preservation
of Liberty and Union.

vi oauuaTyJ unuer the auSplcleS OF the
Jackson Club, was held at the city build
ings tonight. 1t was after p. m. before
the members and their guests were seated
at the tables. Hon. o. E. Powell of Della
ware graced the position of toast-msster,
and his clever presentation of the
several speakers of the evening was
among the most enjoyable features.
Judge Allen G. Thurman, who was the
living hero of the evening, was received
with much demonstration, and spoke to
1.-The Unlon-the Common Heritage
of the People" He spoke as
follows Mr.. President, we have
assembled tonight not to make plat
form for the Democratic party of the
United States, not to set ct work any
party machinery for the political advance
ment OF any person whomsoever, not to
sit In Judgment upon or ostracise true
men OF our party because in some particu-
lars they may differ from US in
regard to men or measures; but we are
hete assembled to do what we can to re-
invigorate the fundamental principles of
our party, to bring about as far as possi-
BILE unity of sentiment and of action.
to renew our devotion to the union
OF states and gather inspiration
from the example and teachings Of the
great man whose vaIor and whose virtues
we this night celebrate; and what better
homage can we pay to him who fought
when child to achieve our independ
ence, who fought when man to main.
tain and protect, and who, when at the
head OF the government and at a
dangerous crisis of our country's history
uttered that ever memorable sentiment.
"The Union, it must and shall b. main
tanned" taan to declare as we Go in the
toast just read that the Union is the COM
mon heritage of patriots. Yes, Mr.. Presi-
dent 1t is so, ana it ought to be So
Men may have been misguided and NAV
have gone wrong in the past, but what
ever may be mans history, if he is to-
day and means to be in the future, the
true, devoted friend of the Union, that
Union is part of his heritage.
1t can not be necessary to speak
to an audience like this of
the advantage and necessity of
union, but it may be proper to say some
thing OF the means by which it can be
preserved, for although the Union nav be.
anG think it is, stronger to-day than IL |
ever was before, yet it would be mistake
to suppose that it will never
in the long course of time encounter dan
gers that will require the utmost wisdom
and patriotism to meet and to counteract. |
We have now population of about Co.
600, people. If the Union lasts anoth- |
er 100 years our population, at the rate of !
increase thSt has hitherto prevailed, |
will be nearly or quite 500, 900, 900, nearly
200, 900, 300 more people than now inhablt
the whole continent of Europe. So num-
erous population of intelligent, act
i've, industrious and educated people
has never been seen under the rule of one
government on the face of the globe, but
If such should be our condition 100 wears
hence, what Will 1t be when two or three
or more centuries shall have rolled away?
Manifestedly to hold such vast
population with prodigous diversity
OF interests and occupations, feelings
and opinions firmly under one flag will re-
quire degree of wisdom, knowledge and
patriotism that has never yet been dis
played in the government of mankind
Some persons suppose that the Union can
be preserved only by the consolidation of
all the substantial powers in the hands of
the federal government, thus in
effect practically destroying the long
cherished home rule Of our state
governments which has been productive
Of SO many benefits and SO much content.
For myself, | am OF the opinion enter
tanned by the fathers of Dem
ocracy that such condition in
stead Of being the preservation
would be certainly the destruction of the
Union, while l fully agree with those who
assert that the general government should
be cheeriully sustained in the exercise of
Ill powers conferred upon it by the
and at the same time
that no feature in our complex
system of government is m ore deserving
1t preservation, more necessary for the
ecurity of liberty and the promotion of |
,he best interest and happiness of the l
people than the home rule of our state
and because this home
'ule is the cherished doctrine of the 6
Democratic party l think that the l
preservation of the party is almost |
synonym for the preservation of liberty
md union. l think that the Democratic
,arty is naturally the party of free insti- S
utlons, and that it will De indestructible
70 long as freedom exists in America If ,
am correct then to say that We are Dem
,crats is to say that We are union men ,
nd answering friends of liberty L
nd. home rule. There IS no time to
light to discuss so grand theme, the t
most interesting that could be presented
0 the mind of an American citizen. All Y
hat l can do in concluding my brief n
emarks is to coDju you to $
herish deep love of your free
to inculcate this love on the
Minds of your children and never render v
ny circumstances, however appalling, to b
ispair Of the republic" o
Hon. Frank Lawler of Chicago respond b
d to the toast, The Workingman" He
aid: "Twenty-five years of Republican
has left the working
ian at the mercy of the monopol SITS"
tier relsting briefly his own experience .
s workingman, and his early struggle {
} gain an education and foothold in the v
1orld, he proceeded to give q concise y
tatement of labor legislation as it ex- G
tied at the time he entered congress, and g